Rabbit feeder



Jan. 9, 1951 H. H. VENSKE ET AL RABBIT FEEDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 31, 194'? Inventor Harold H. Venske Attorneys In veutor L J/ Vv 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. H. VENSKE Er AL RABBIT FEEDER Jan. 9, 1951 Filed March 51, 1947 .Haro/d H. Van ske V v VV V VV 6 2 Harold R. Youngman Attorneys 2 VVMVV u v u v w wv w u\\ Patented Jan. 9, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Harold H. Venske, Solvang, and Harold R. Youngman, Monterey, Calif.

Application March 31, 1947, Serial No. 738,368

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to novel and useful improvements in feeding devices particularly adapted for use in feeding rabbits.

An object of this invention is to provide compartmented housing means for retaining daily rations.

Another object of this invention is to provide valve means for releasing the ration in selected compartments.

A further object of this invention is to provide said valve means which might be utilized as indicating means indicative of the quantity of ration utilized.

A still further object of this invention is to provide means for retaining said valve means in an unobstrusive position under predetermined conditions of operation.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive, versatile and satisfactorily operating device of the character described.

Ancillary objects and features of novelty, as well as those pointed out hereinabcve, will become apparent to those skilled in the art in following the description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an elevational side view of the invention disclosed in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional detail of the invention shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the invention disclosed in Figure 3 and taken substantially on the line 44 thereof and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the preferred form of the present invention with parts broken away in sections in order to illustrate details of construction;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the preferred form of the present invention, with the cover removed;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the invention taken On line l-l in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the tray or pan formingpart of the present inand/ or wood. A friction fit cover l2 may be removably applied to the upper, open portion of the said housing H3. A plurality of partitions It are received, in parallel relation to each other within said housing. Any number of partitions may be provided, however, this invention preferably employs 8 in order that seven chambers it may be provided. By this construction, a single chamber maybe utilized per day and the feeder need only be filled every week.

A longitudinal recess 18 is provided at the lower rear portion of said housing. Immediately' above said recess is a slot 20 adapted to receive valve means therein. It is noted from an inspection of Figure '7 that each of the partitions 14 is provided with an opposed groove 22 wherein slides valve means 24'. Comparing Figures 5 and 7 it is seen that this valve means comprises a plurality of slider valves which are received in said slot l8 and in the groove 22. A single valve 24 is provided for each of said chambers 1%. Charging the housing It by means of lifting the cover l2 and filling each compartment 58 with any suitable ration is permitted. The valves 24 extend within said compartment l6 and may be pulled outwardly relative to said housing thereby opening each of or selected chambers It; permitting the feed therein to be selectively dropped from said compartment.

Referring now to Figure 3, it will be noted that an arcuate continuation 25 of the valve means 24 is provided. The phantom showing on this figure discloses that said arcuate hook-like portion is adapted to abut the wall 28 of said longitudinal recess l8. By' this construction, the valve means 24 may be h'angingly received in the recess 18 after a selective chamber 16 has emptied of its contents. Further, the empty compartments of the housing Ii! may be ascertained by noting which of said valves 24 are hanging by the arcuate portion 26.

The tray or pan means, generally indicated by the numeral 30 is provided at the outlet portion of each of said partitions M. The preferred configuration of said'pan means is substantially rectangular having an inclined back portion 32 provided as an extension of the back member of the longitudinal recess It. This member 32 provides a baflie means for directing the feed from the chamber I6 to the tray means 39. The construction of the said tray means 30' is preferably screwassembled with the end member 34 frictionally engaging the outermost partition I4. The said can means may be easily removed.

A plurality of spacers 36 may be removably secured within said tray means 3 4 for the purpose of partitioning.

Any suitable securing means may be provided for retaining said partitions 36 in the desired locations. There is shown in Figure 8 a rod 38 extending longitudinally of said tray means 30, said rod 38 being received in suitable detents 49 provided "in the end members or partitions 14;. Guides 44 may be provided for the-purpose'of directing the partitions 36 therein. A friction bind is contemplated in this use of partitions. How ever, if it is found preferable, there maybe a second strip and a third strip 45 and 48 respectively extending across the topjoflsaid' partitions 36 and depending therein by the medium. of suitable notches 58 provided in eachof said partitions 36. Small animals feeding from the invention will be forced to employ a selective portion of the feeding tray 35. "Two of said trays will be aired while the single tray is beingemployed. This tends to keep said portions fresh.

The partitions 14 may be secured between the front and back walls of the housing 16 by suitable conventional means such as screws or the nails 52. This securing means will be dictated by the type of material used in the construction thereof.

A pairvof arcuate clips are provided on said housing and are adapted to engage the usual screen or wire net 56 for suspending the inven- ,tion. The loadin portions Hi, l2 of the invention may be secured exteriorly of the animal abode while the feeding portion is provided therein. By this arrangement, the person feedingthe ing an open bottom, sides,.a front and a back wall, partitions in said housing formingcompartments, said back wall having a horizontal slot therein, said partitions having horizontal ,grooves therein, valve plates slidably disposed in 4 posed in said recess when the vanes are in the open position to support the valve plates and to indicate the absence of feed in the compartments.

2. An animal feeder comprising a housing having an open bottom, sides, a front and a back wall, partitions in said housing forming compartments, said back wall having a horizontal slot therein, said-partitions having grooves therein,

valve plates slidably disposed in said grooves and extending through said slot, hooks at the ends of said valve plates engaging the material of said back wall immediately below said slot when the valves are in the open position to support the valve plates andto indicate the absence of feed in-the compartments, a tray fixed to said housing andhaving an angularly inclined back wall disposed beneath said open bottom to direct feed ber while said housing is disposed on the other side of said stationary member.

3. The combination of claim 2 and tray partitions removably mounted in said tray to section said tray.

HAROLD H. VENSKE. HAROLD R. YOUNGMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 258,838 Willson May 30, 1882 311,880 Doty Feb. 10, 1385 384,357 Garrett June 12, 1388 557,466 Witten Mar. 31, 1896 779,434 Lyon Jan. 10, 1905 856,164 Koehler June 4, 1907 1,335,155 Brown Mar. 20, 1920 1,550,612 Huber Aug. 18, 1925 1,671,041 Mendenhall May 22, 1928 1,919,587 Eiensel et a1. July 25, 1933 

